Russians opposed Peter the Great mainly because the pace of change was too rapid. Pares, in an attempt to support the argument, says ‘it was not so much what Peter did that gave shock to the Russian consciousness but in which he did it and the pace it was done’ He expresses the idea that if change to modernise Russia was introduced at a slower rate people would be less likely to oppose. There is evidence that gives credit to Pares argument is that Peter tried to introduce a wooden plough with iron edging, but the peasants wanted to carry on the slash and burn method that they had been using for generations. Pares enhances his own interpretation because he writes ‘by racing against the wind as Klyuchevsky puts it, Peter increased the velocity of the wind against him.’ This enhances his argument because it proves that the faster he moved with the change the more opposition he would face. (Evidence)

In passage B, Lisk contradicts Pares because she believes that it does not matter how fast the change came the country would always oppose it. She writes ‘Peter ordered that no serf could leave his masters estate without written permission’ the peasants would always oppose this because they would not like being treated as the property of their master.(evidence) Lisk supports her earlier statement that ‘the situation of the peasants in Russia grew worse and the gulf between the classes even wider’ the noblemen would not oppose this because they would become even more powerful and wealthy whereas the peasants would oppose this no matter the speed because they would be getting poorer and poorer which makes it harder for them to live. In a further attempt to back her ideas up she writes ‘the demands in particular of the tax collectors and recruiting officers occasioned great distress.’ This view implies that the peasants were struggling to pay for the tax and therefore it would not matter what pace the taxes came they would struggle because of the sheer amount of them. Some peasants even deserted their towns so that they did not have to pay the taxes. They became part of a robber band.

In interpretation C, Marshall says ‘the majority still wanted renewal from old Russian roots, from the old Orthodox tradition.’ They do not oppose the change that is happening if Peter does it slowly. If Peter had introduced conscription for the army in slower their might not have been as many deserters as the peasants would be more willing to join up without being forced as they knew how to fight because they had been educated in the military schools that Peter set up. Peter had improved the training methods by introducing manuals and better discipline into the army. Marshall supports his argument that Peter would not have been opposed if he had brought in his reforms at a slower pace. ‘The time of troubles had made many Russians realise that some form of transformation or rejuvenation was essential.’ This view suggests that the Russians wanted the change to happen in order for them to be able have a better life. Peter made the army better at fighting as a unit because he made green uniforms and the weapon were gradually replaced by more modern equipment like the flintlock and bayonet.
In interpretation D, Hughes creates the argument that Peter faced opposition but the officials in his court followed him whilst he was around but when he was away they went back to the old traditions. This suggests that no matter how fast Peter brought in these clothing changes he would face opposition from the traditional members of Russia. ‘the new dress codes caught on quickly at court where it was difficult to evade the tsars eagle eye.’ Hughes supports her interpretation because she writes ‘away from Moscow, however, there was opposition to the new fashions.’ Some shops selling Russian style clothes were closed by officials but they opened up the next day as people still wanted to buy them as they didn’t want to follow what Peter wanted them to wear. This proves that outside where Peter was based he faced opposition because he couldn’t reinforce the laws he created, this is because Russia is a very large place and Peter was mainly based in Moscow or St Petersburg. Peter also travelled round Europe in order to get ideas that would help him improve the way Russia is run and to change the traditions that had been in Russia for centuries, therefore the old nobility would oppose the changes no matter what the pace was. However, there were some collaborators who supported his changes including some old nobility like Sherematev and Golitsyn. Peter attracted supporters who talented in useful things however most of them were very corrupt. Even Peters wife, Catherine, took bribes off people. This would not help Peters case in the poorer areas because they would be treated worse because they could not afford to give the nobility bribes in order to live a better life. This means that no matter how fast Peter and his officials brought in change he would always face opposition by those who did not want the newer traditions or the corrupted government.